No, Keefer Inc. Testing isn’t going to go all pedal bikes on you, but I can tell you I love all things two wheels. I also can tell you that bicycling is one of my favorite hobbies to do with my family as well as a crucial part in my training regimen. When Intense approached me to test the Tazer MX E-Bike, I told them I DO NOT know enough about the inner workings of a mountain bike to give great testing feedback. But, after some thought, I figured why not give you a real life beginner’s evaluation of an e-bike. I have only ridden an e-bike a few times with Matthes in Las Vegas, so I thought why not hit my own trails and give you a break down on what I thought of this unique pedal assist bicycle.
Now, Steve will tell you that I am an e-bike hater, but that is simply not true. I am all about more people getting in shape, having fun outdoors and genuinely enjoying their time on two wheels, with whatever or however they can. I am one of those types of guys that likes to suffer from time to time and I know that your standard pedal bicycle will do just that… Make me suffer. I just figured at some point, when Steve got into better shape he would then switch over to an Intense Sniper or something equivalent to maybe mix it up right? I was WRONG! He is an all e-bike, all the time, type of rider, so I am beginning to accept that, only because I have now got more of a taste of what he does day in and day out. This Intense Tazer MX is F.U.N.!
What Is It Like To Ride The Intense Tazer MX?
So for you that have never ridden an e-bike before I can tell you it’s almost like riding your dirt bike. I made sure to pedal the same 20-30 mile loops around my house that I normally do on any given training day, just to compare fun factor, heart rate, etc. I can honestly say that it’s way more fun to ride the Intense Tazer MX e- bike than my trusty ol’ Specialized Epic that I do my daily grind on. The Intense Tazer MX although can get me around my loop much quicker, manages to keep my heart rate at an average of around 125-130 bpm, which is a training zone that Coach Seiji has me train in a lot because of how much I ride dirt bikes. In order to keep my heart rate that low at times, I either have to spin out on my stationary bike indoors, ride my road bike, or go so slow on my mountain bike and that is basically like watching paint dry. I want to be outside! I want to be able to ride on my trails, but get my proper zones in, so I don’t shit the bed on a busy week of testing. This Intense Tazer MX allows me to enjoy myself and give me the proper training in that is necessary. I don’t know if it’s me or not, but this MX Pro Build version seemed to be a lot lighter when loading it up in the Ridgeline than older ones I have loaded up in the past. I like that it feels planted to the ground on sketchy, loose terrain and gives me more lean angle confidence than my Cross Country bike does out on the trails. Again, I know a lot of this has to do with dimensions, suspension, weight, components, etc., but I am just a beginner that’s sharing his thoughts over here.
I also let the Mrs. ride the Tazer MX on a couple occasions and she appreciates me not yelling at her when she goes with me. Usually I will have to wait so much on her that I basically don’t get the training that I want/like in and sometimes I bark a little (Sorry, babe). I love having her go with me, but that also means that I have to maybe go on another ride after we go out, just so I can get into a higher heart rate zone. Now that she is on an e-bike, I could pedal at a normal pace and she could keep right up with me! So far this Intense Tazer has checked a couple huge boxes for us as a family.
Like I said earlier, when pedaling on “Trail” or “Boost” the feeling you get is very similar to trail riding on your dirt bike. You really can’t believe that you’re riding a bicycle at times. I have ridden an older Tazer as well as a Specialized Levo and none of those compared to the Shimano motor that is in the new Tazer MX version. On “Eco” mode it feels very similar to Steve’s older Shimano motor on his Tazer, but once in “Trail” or “Boost” this new Shimano motor really is stronger with each pedal stroke. I also noticed that with each pedal stroke the updated Shimano motor on the “MX” version was smoother and less jumpy. When riding on tighter trails it provided a smoother acceleration than older motors I have tried, which allowed for less pushing of the front wheel on tighter 180 degree corners when trying to accelerate. That being said, I will say that the turning radius of the new Tazer MX is not as good as a standard Tazer or a Levo because the bars hit the forks earlier than I was used to.
I like that Intense brought out dirt bike specific parts as well as a brake placement that is similar to your dirt bike (rear brake on left, front brake on right). Ohlins forks/coil spring shock, Magura brakes, Renthal Fatbar handlebars, front number plate ODI lock on grips, and Maxxis tires bring out that dirt bike feel.
Last but not least, I let my good friend Greg ride another Intense Tazer MX I had with me for a couple days and he couldn’t believe how much fun he had. What is so shocking about this, is that Greg was an e-bike hater. Greg just retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department after 33 years and wanted to get back in “cardio” shape. He was in the market for a bicycle and I kept telling him about the Intense Tazer and how it could get him back into shape without all the hatred towards me when I took him on a decent sized ride. He refused to listen and told me “he would creep up on his fitness” with a standard pedal bike. With some coaxing from myself, I finally got him to go with me on a ride since I had two of these Intense Tazer MX versions and he reluctantly agreed. The first mile in I could see his face wasn’t what I was hoping for yet. By the 5th mile, his face started to slowly resemble the face of the guy I knew when he rode dirt bikes. By the time we hit mile 15 he was ALL IN! Greg went from an e-bike hater to a guy who was looking to purchase an Intense Tazer MX within the next couple weeks! I was speechless! We ended up going just over 30 miles on only his second day on a bicycle in over 15 years! Yes, he hit “Boost” at times, but I didn’t give a shit because this pedal assist bike hooked him into getting in shape more than I could ever do! Greg is now currently looking on getting a Sniper and Tazer MX for his retired cardio life. His exact words were “this is the most fun I had in a long time”! That is cool!
So with all this being said I could break down the new Shimano motor, the suspension, the brakes, but honestly I don’t know enough about the specific parts to give you a proper test! I am not a bicycle test rider, but I know a fun bike when I ride one! I just can offer you all my experiences and why I thought this Intense Tazer MX e-bike would be good or bad. From the time I spent with the Intense Tazer MX all points lead to yes, it is a great bike! Yes, I am now in the market to get one! Shit! More money to be spent on my two wheel habit! With the MSRP of $8,000 for the Pro build and $6,000 for the Expert build, it is a real dent to the pocketbook. However, if you’re looking to maximize the fun of training and are a dirt bike kind of person, this bike is worth the money in my opinion. I can use it on my lower heart training rides, have Heather or Aden go with me and even keep up with Steve at his home turf in the lush hills of Las Vegas! These bikes will only be available exclusively in Parts Unlimited motorcycle dealerships.
From Intense:
The INTENSE Tazer MX is the first-ever powersports specific eMTB on the market. Available in two builds, the full-carbon Tazer MX features motocross-inspired componentry from recognizable MX brands like Öhlins, Maxxis, Renthal, Magura and ODI to appeal to the powersports customer. The Tazer MX will hit dealer floors in late September and will be sold exclusively through Parts Unlimited dealers. The Shimano motor with its 3-power mode pedal assist selection allows you to adjust your power output. This powerful eMTB is the perfect cross-training tool for the motorsports enthusiast with its easy-to-change long lasting battery, allowing you to pack in more trails than your average ride. Ride farther. Ride faster. #TazerMX
Pro Key Features
// Full carbon fiber frame with internally routed cables
// Up to 62 miles on a single charge with an easy-to-swap Shimano battery
(Extra batteries available for purchase – suggested retail $599)
// Top of the line Shimano motor
// 170mm front travel dual crown fork / 160mm rear coil travel / Öhlins Suspension // 4-piston brakes with 203mm rotors for ultimate stopping power
// Rear fender, underside bash guard, and chainstay protectors
Pro Build Specs
Fork
Öhlins DH38 Race fork, dual crown, 170mm travel, air spring system
Shock
Öhlins TTX22M Coil, 155mm travel, High/low speed compression adjustment, rebound adjustment
Brakes
Magura MT7 Pro with 203mm MDR-C rotors front and back
Shifter
Shimano XT 11-speed
Derailleur
Shimano XT 11-speed
Cranks
Ethirteen E*spec 34 tooth chainring
Cassette
Shimano SLX 11-42 tooth
Wheelset
Ethirteen E*spec alloy rim 29” front / 27.5” rear with INTENSE E-mtn alloy hubs
Tires
Maxxis Minion DHR II Maxx Terra 3C EXO+ 29” x 2.60” Front / 27.5” x 2.8” Rear
Seat Post / Saddle
INTENSE Recon Dropper post / SDG Bel-Air Saddle
Handlebar
Renthal Fatbar 35mm OD x 800mm Wide, 30mm rise
Grips
ODI Elite Flow
48 pounds
Expert Key Features
// Full carbon fiber frame with internally routed cables
// Up to 62 miles on a single charge with an easy-to-swap Shimano battery
(Extra batteries available for purchase – suggested retail $599)
// Shimano E7000 motor
// 160mm front travel single crown fork / 155mm rear coil travel / DVO Suspension // 4-piston TRP brakes with 203mm rotors for ultimate stopping power
// Rear fender, underside bash guard, and chainstay protectors
Expert Build Specs
Fork
DVO Diamond E3 fork, single crown, 160mm travel, air spring system
Shock
DVO Jade Coil, 155mm travel, High/low speed compression adjustment, rebound adjustment
Brakes
TRP E-MTB HD E842 Brake with 203mm rotors front and back
Shifter
Shimano SLX 11-speed
Derailleur
Shimano XT 11-speed
Cranks
Ethirteen E*spec 34 tooth chainring
Cassette
Shimano SLX 11-42 tooth
Wheelset
Ethirteen E*spec alloy rim 29” front / 27.5” rear with INTENSE E-mtn alloy hubs
Tires
Maxxis Minion DHR II Maxx Terra 3C EXO+ 29” x 2.60” Front / 27.5” x 2.8” Rear
Seat Post / Saddle
INTENSE Recon Dropper post / SDG Bel-Air Saddle
Handlebar
Renthal Fatbar 35mm OD x 800mm Wide, 30mm rise
Grips
ODI Elite Flow
48 pounds 10 ounces.
